Unto Others As Unto Me

In the midst of a persistent and perplexing war in Iraq and the non-ending battle between national political leaders to determine the best course of action, the media hoopla over the offhanded and off-color comments made by radio personality Don Imus appears off-base.

Aren’t there are more important issues to tackle? Does it seem the reaction to his “three word tirade” is equal to the response, especially when compared to the vulgar characterizations that so often fill the airwaves within a younger hip-hop and rap culture? Shouldn’t the far more dangerous issues of hunger, poverty and HIV/AIDS be emphasized more than hurt feelings over verbal insults-including those that purport to be said in humorous dialogue?

But in case those of us in the white community become too quickly dismissive of the offense experienced by the family and friends of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team, I offer a few observations regarding why this issue is so explosive.

(1.) When derogatory language is used within the hip-hop and rap culture, it is usually a dialogue within the community it describes instead of an assault from outside. For example, a disparaging comment I might make about men is less offensive than one I might make about women simply because I cannot legitimately explain their experience without actually being a part of it.

(2.) Also, when derogatory language is aired in hip-hop and rap it usually is done so in the abstract without identifying a specific person or persons. Yet, Mr. Imus was direct and specific. He was not talking about a generalized group of persons (which should be enough to get into trouble), but about a select group of real persons. His comments were reserved for a particular set of individuals who could not hear his comments without also receiving them as a personal attack upon their own personal appearance, character and behavior.

(3.) Further, Mr. Imus is considerably older and we might hope wiser than the famous hip-hop and rap promoters of similar disparaging exaggerations. Their youthfulness does not excuse their terrible excesses in profane language but neither does this similarity excuse Mr. Imus when he sinks to the lowest common denominator as well. His listening audience should demand a little more from him than that.

(4.) His excuse that he is a “good person who said a bad thing,” does little to belay the observation that he did not merely misspeak, but actually holds a deeper prejudice against those of different color. His indignant and reluctant apology reveals the same problem characteristic of a quick dismissal by those in the white community, namely an insensitivity to just how offensive such language is received by those to whom it is directed.

This recent illustration of the racial divide in our nation deserves serious attention. Until we can truly understand an issue from another’s vantage point, we will evermore stay entrenched in our prejudice and bias, all the while believing wrongly that we have somehow magically found ourselves on the other side of true reconciliation. In other words, believing that this was not a problem is the first indication that a real problem exists.

When interviewed on the “Today” program this morning, Rutgers head basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer (no stranger to adversity herself) was asked if Mr. Imus should be fired. She said she is not the one to make that decision but instead encouraged each American to examine and answer the question, “What kind of country do I want to live in?”

She elaborated how this recent episode is an opportunity to change the climate by changing what each of us says and thinks. “If those of us in positions of influence would take some leadership…. we could teach our young people what should be and we need to be shining examples so that we don’t have the kind of situation where Mr. Imus says ‘he is only reflecting on what a rapper said.’ If we set the example… there can be a return to real decency and respect for all peoples and all ethnic groups (in our land)”. It sounds to me like it should be the coach who deserves the microphone that Mr. Imus has, perhaps though too much familiarity, treated with such contempt.